I love the constant chirping of Mr and Mrs Cardinal as they fly to and fro above me, sometimes stopping to watch me work. I love the sound of the wind sifting softly through the pines, the cooing of the mourning dove couple as their song drifts down from their nest high in its branches. I live in the city, but we have alot of bird-life, thank God-I don't hear the sounds of constant traffic when I'm working in the garden.

Hearing migrating geese is always a thrill. For how many centuries have people heard that sound? I like the 'crunch' of dry snow underfoot. There's a creek on one side of our house. There's sound there all year -- toads, birds, right now about ten mallards whose quacking is driving our Westie crazy. One spring (in another house) a pair of red-tail hawks raised their two offspring near us. We could watch the parents teach the young-uns how to hunt. The four would line up along the peak of the church roof behind our house, and 'screeee' as they stooped on mice in the churchyard. Deer frequent the path along the creek. *They* are soundless, but when our Westie sees them, he has a special 'deer-bark' to alert us. He's learned to just say, "They're HERE," and be quiet. I like to hear a cricket on a dark, silent night. I like the soft creaking of trees in a wind. The 'tee-dee' of a redwing blackbird often announces spring.

The sounds of birds calling to each other at dusk. The wood burning and crackling in our fireplace insert. Our DS coming in the front door (he lives next door) and saying, "Hel-lo" in his very distinct way. The sound of DH snoring...I agree with Cheryl. It's a very comforting and familiar sound. Our dog Tootie, when she' ready for breakfast or dinner. She makes a little "yip" a number of times in succession. And she does this while her little tail is curled tight and she's dancing around in a circle (she's a pug). The unusual meow that our cat Bitsy makes when she's looking for some love. Kind of a "mrch-e-ow". The way our cat Bundles purrs like she's an instrument in an orchestra. She is loud! The sound of the electric kettle when it's ready to boil. Tea time ;o) The quiet when I'm the only one up early in the morning. I love to sit at the kitchen table with my coffee and gaze out the window.

Sunshine, MY GOD, so many figs. I never get that many. Do you have any secrets in growing them to get that many? Do you fertilize them? Often? Are they in big pots? Do they sleep all winter? Fantastic job my friend) Brian buddy, can you feel fall in the air? At least smell it? I'm so depressed buddy. I know these beautiful warm nights will be over soon. Many complain it's too hot here, but I love the temps warm enough at night to wear sandals and a t-shirt! I love getting out of this a.c. building to be enveloped into the warm air when I get out and hear the birds flying over head and the crickets at night on a windless night. So tranquil and relaxing. I am not looking forward to the winds and change buddy, sad. The mornings are dark now and the nights dark so much earlier than a week ago. I am beginning to feel like I don't want to make room for my trees in fall. I would love to just bring in my favorite and let the rest go buddy. Although young, I don't think I can muster up energy to even try to grow them all winter. Yes, that thing scared me half to death buddy! To be trying to get rid of one in my room with my boxers on at 10 at night, and to get chased by one after work. Yuk! Then when I went to water my plants on my flat roof, wouldn't you know they crapped on my favorite jades. I am going to get rid of them. It has not rained here for a few days buddy and today it reached a whopping 98 degrees! Hot and no rain. Back to drought again buddy(( Hugs right back at you. By the way, what a beautiful picture of that butterfly and your trees!! I am getting into the butterfly thingy and growing milk weed for that purpose not to say the flowers smell so sweet too)) Brian, question? I was wondering if you think it's better if we cut our trees way back in Spring so that they are manageable to bring in without cutting back in fall? Does cutting them back in fall encourage them to put out poor spindly growth for winter like candy for bugs? What do you think? I was wondering this the other day buddy. Nancy, well look at that! It's amazing what warm sunny weather will do. That's why it's so depressing to not be able to stick them in a nice large greenhouse all winter. I can't stand subjecting them to less than ideal conditions for months on end((( Great job! Nancy, you are a riot. That big wow. Oh yeah, beach weather here we come lol Amy, wow....It wouldn't surprise me if they took a liking to citrus.lol Who knows these days. Stay cool and make sure to hydrate. Jenny you are a gem. Precious in my eyes. Thanks for all you do here. Mike